Hi Simon,
I am using the same set up as Eric Cheng. Dual Sony 550v's on a rig with wide conversion lenses and dual lanc controller. It's a whole new world out there and its coming on. Hard to be left behind. Here are some pics:_DSC3043.jpg119.17KB2 downloads

Thanks for posting the pics and that sure is a nice and compact set up. Are you just playing around with this for fun, to get your knowledge up to scratch on 3D shooting and workflows, or do you actually see a commercial application using those camcorders?

Hmmmm where can I buy some googles from, or does everyone just take their Avatar glasses home with them?? I have not dipped my toe into the 3D pool yet, but it sure is exciting wondering where it will lead!

Simon, you can buy glasses online at places like Amazon for a few dollars each. Purchase anaglyph (red/cyan). This is 1080 footage so certainly broadcast usable for certain levels of productions. Eric clearly stated the reason for this investment. 3D is coming and by the time it is mainstream, most shooters will be far behind. This is NOT like the step from SD to HD. It is far more complicated from both a shooting and post-production standpoint. The learning curve is challenging to say the least and the tolerances painfully tight.

Jonny, the Sony 550V can shoot 240 fps for bursts of 3 seconds. These are buffered and captured at 30 frames, creating 24 second super slow-mo clips. Quite handy! Unfortunately their is additional compression so reasonable for web but not HD broadcast.

Dean, I recall you saying the same thing about the Sony EX platform when you had the A1? What are you shooting with now Hang in there brother!

Dean, I recall you saying the same thing about the Sony EX platform when you had the A1? What are you shooting with now Hang in there brother!

You're memories a lot better than mine :)Although I did wait a year to see how well the EX1 cameras were excepted however I really think it's a different subject matter altogether. HD is a format for all types of broadcast I cannot imagine watching something like the news in 3D... However Natural world spectacles in 3D world be cool. As I said its still early days and the cams you are all talking about are pretty much like the A1's of their time, entry level, I'll wait for the Ex3D ... Just being cautious.

3D television sales are accelerating. 3D cinema is popping up all over. As Dean says, Natural History (and Sports) are some of the best subjects for 3D. Considering there is still a shortage of HD content for certain subjects, can you imagine the shortage of 3D content. Where are they going to get that content in a pinch? Who are they going to turn to when they need to shoot it. Given the learning curve, waiting is ok but the catch up time is going to lengthly. The systems Eric and I are using enable us to experiment with all kinds of shots and scenarios without lugging huge rigs around. They also let us modify and work lens options. Certainly experimental phase but lots of promise.

I am shooting the same rig as Eric underwater...simple carbon housing with dual cams and dual lanc controllers. We are experimenting with lenses now as well.

I will shoot anything the production company sends me ... I'm still waiting for all you excited RED and then ViDSLR enthusiasts (now how many were there???) to retire on the fortunes from these streets of gold formats. My Ex1 is an excellent paper weight ... I will wait for 4D or even 44DD

Interests:filming/editing/exotic travel. l write reviews of editing software, books, tutorials and Mac based NLE related products for the www.kenstone.net and www.lafcpug.org sites as well as articles for Asian Diver Magazine and wetpixel. I am one of the founding members of the San Diego UnderSea Film Festival

Posted 23 August 2010 - 01:52 PM

Shawn, I think you did a great job on these little videos. While the flimsy 3D glasses give me a headache, the convergence plain was spot on, especially the two videos of the kids jumping. I saw no framing violations in the foreground at all. Do you have a housing for your 550 setup yet?
Steve

Edited by steve, 23 August 2010 - 01:53 PM.

www.kenstone.net
www.lafcpug.org

Steve Douglas
steve-sharksdelight@cox.net

I have worked as an unpaid reviewer for the editing websites since 2002. Most all hardware and software is sent to me free of charge, however, in no way am I obligated to provide either positive or negative evaluations. Any suggestions I make regarding products are a result of my own, completely, personal opinions and experiences with said products.

Thanks Steve! I am still working on how to manage dynamic shooting situations but getting closer. We are now trying wider conversion lenses and though they aren't perfect, they are creating some interesting opportunities. And yes, we have the cams underwater in a modified BS Kenetics rig. Posting more on that as well.
shawn

Looks like a you are all being 'left behind' a friend of mine watched some 3D underwater footage at a sony centre yesterday Whalesharks, Manta's, sharks etc etc he said he was blown away by it . Someone out there is shooting all the fishes while you lot test your camera's topside...